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talley_cofc
59
Winner UNCW UNCW 21-6, 13-3
55
Col. of Charleston COFC 16-11, 8-8
Winner
UNCW UNCW
21-6, 13-3
59
Final
55
Col. of Charleston COFC
16-11, 8-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
UNCW UNCW 29 20 10 59
Col. of Charleston COFC 21 28 6 55

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Joe Browning

Seahawks, Ingram Outlast Charleston For 21st Win

CHARLESTON, South Carolina – Junior guard Denzel Ingram scored eight of his game-high 17 points in overtime to propel league-leading UNCW past defensive-minded College of Charleston, 59-55, in the final road game of the season for the Seahawks on Saturday at TD Arena
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The Seahawks, 21-6 and 13-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association, completed a sweep of the Cougars and finished the regular season with an 8-5 record away from home. The Cougars, playing their home finale, stand 16-11 and 8-8 in the conference heading into the final week of the regular campaign.

"I'm excited about getting the win," said Kevin Keatts, UNCW's second-year head coach who soared to a perfect 5-0 in overtime since joining the Seahawks. "It was a great game and we battled. To be a championship team, you have to win all types of games. I thought that to come into Charleston and play the best defensive team in the league, we'd have to be the better defensive team."

Ingram, the team's second leading scorer, had just four points at halftime and did most of the damage for the Seahawks at the free throw line, connecting on all 10 of his charity attempts with six clutch free throws in the final 44 seconds. Senior guard Craig Ponder added 15 points and sophomore playmaker Jordon Talley had 12 for the Seahawks.

It was UNCW's 12th win in the last 13 contests and their sixth in a row over the Cougars. The Seahawks have not lost to second-year CofC skipper Earl Grant in five meetings.

Freshman guard Marquise Pointer scored 16 points to anchor three players in double figures for the Cougars, who finished 10-5 at home. Junior guard Payton Hulsey collected 12 points and freshman guard Jarrell Brantley had a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Two days after having their 11-game conference winning streak snapped, the Seahawks regrouped with a gritty defensive effort and timely shooting to climb within reach of their second consecutive CAA regular season crown.

The Seahawks controlled most of the game before the Cougars rallied to tie the score in the final minute of regulation. UNCW then missed an opportunity to claim the win in regulation when junior guard Chris Flemmings and junior center C.J. Gettys missed last-second field goal attempts, forcing UNCW's second overtime game of the season.

UNCW, behind Ingram, then dominated the extra period. Ingram swished a fadeaway jumper with 2:08 left in overtime and Ponder drained a pair of free throws to give the Seahawks a four-point edge with under two minutes left to play.

"Denzel stepped up to the line and played big," added Keatts. "It showed he's in great shape. He made plays down the stretch and was special tonight when we were struggling."

The Cougars went 2-of-7 in overtime and didn't score until Cameron Johnson dropped in the second of two free throws with 37 seconds on the clock. Charleston struggled at the line most of the night, making 17-of-29 at the charity stripe and only 11-of-22 in the second half and overtime period.

In the second half, UNCW led by 10 points when Gettys made a layup for the first basket of the half before the Cougars rallied. Grant's team finally caught up with the Seahawks at 36-all when Hulsey cashed in on both ends of a bonus situation at 13:30, Charleston's first lead since 5:34 of the first half.

The Cougars still led, 49-47, with 2:42 left in regulation after a layup by James Bourne, but Flemmings sank a pair of free throws with 41.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

The Seahawks started slowly out of the gate, falling behind 6-0 in the first four minutes, before catching the Cougars and capitalizing on Charleston's cold shooting for a 29-21 advantage at halftime. The 21 points was a season-low for Seahawk opponents, fewer than the 27 points scored by Eastern Kentucky back on Nov. 16 at Trask Coliseum.

After Johnson sank a three-pointer on the left baseline to give Charleston a 6-0 lead at 16:36, the Seahawks got on the board with 15:26 showing on a soft jumper along the left baseline by Flemmings.

UNCW still trailed the Cougars, 15-11, with eight minutes to play before gaining separation from their regional rivals. The Seahawks closed out the half with an 18-6 run and took an eight-point lead into the lockerroom on Ponder's nifty reverse layup with two seconds on the clock.

The Seahawks started the first half connecting on 4-of-12, but regrouped to shoot 47.6 percent on 10-of-21 at the break. The Cougars, however, struggled through the cold shooting opening period and made just 7-of-30 field goals for 23.3 percent.

The Seahawks return to Trask Coliseum for their final two games of the regular season, beginning on Thursday with a 7 p.m. matchup with Hofstra. The Cougars wrap up the campaign with visits to Northeastern and Hofstra.

GAME NOTES: The game was televised by the American Sports Network to markets around the country…The series is now tied at 10-all…The Cougars are 6-3 against the Seahawks in Charleston, but stand 1-2 against UNCW at TD Arena…UNCW went 21-of-27 at the free throw line…The Seahawks went a combined 8-of-33 from deep…Denzel Ingram played 42 of a possible 45 minutes…Both teams had 17 field goals…Charleston pulled down 18 offensive rebounds…There were seven ties and five lead changes in the contest…UNCW has not lost to Charleston since Jan. 22, 2014.


 
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